Scoring 17 straight points is typically a good thing for a team. Monday night in Minnesota, it was a game-changing thing for the Boston Celtics.
Boston had truly struggled for a good quarter and a half of action leading up to the final period between the C’s and Timberwolves. They just didn’t have it.
But then they found it – and they found it in a hurry.
The Celtics opened up the fourth quarter on a 17-0 run to turn a 13-point deficit into a four-point advantage. The run lasted until the 5:18 mark of the fourth, when Karl-Anthony Towns put home a layup to end Minnesota’s eye-opening dry spell.
Boston’s run opened up with an infectious play that spread energy and effort throughout the team. Terry Rozier drove into the lane and kicked the ball out to Jaylen Brown on the left wing. Brown could have fired up a trey for himself, but instead, he made the “one-more” pass that coaches always love. He drew his defender toward him and dropped a pass off to his left to Jonas Jerebko, who caught and fired from the left corner for three sweet points.
After that basket, the C’s began flying around at both ends of the court, and before anyone knew it, they were in control of the game. They pulled ahead by as many as eight points during the fourth quarter and went on to win 99-93.
Al Horford is 2-for-2 in putting up big games since his return from a concussion. Horford totaled 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals Saturday night in Detroit, and he was nearly just as good Monday night in Minneapolis.
Boston’s prized free agent acquisition went off for a season-high 20 points on 9-of-20 shooting from the field against the Timberwolves. He also added in six rebounds, five assists, three blocks and a steal during his 36 minutes of action.
What’s crazy about those numbers is that all of them – literally, every single one of them – either tied for the team high or was the outright team high in each respective category. Horford led the team with 20 points and three blocks. Meanwhile, he tied for the team high in field goal makes and attempts, rebounds, assists and steals.
Not a bad couple of games for a guy who just missed three weeks with a concussion.
Terry Rozier on his defensive goals.
